Moisture absorbing means for footwear



Aug. 21, 1951 H, w. KEiTHLEY', JR

MOISTURE `ABSORBING MEANS F OR FOOTWEAR Filed March 26 1951 INVENTO Patented Aug. 21, 1951 MOISTURE ABSORBING MEANS FOR FOOTWEAR Howard W. Keithley, Jr., Hyattsville, Md.

Application March 26, 1951, Serial No. 217,639

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to moisture absorbing means for footwear, particularly in footwear made of a non-porous substance such as rubber. As is well known, rubber may well protect the wearer from external water, but it also keeps any moisture such as perspiration, completely sealed in. Such moisture can lead to fungus growth between the toes and on the foot, with subsequent danger of infection, or in severe climates contribute to the development of frostbite.

The elimination of moisture within the footwear, yet maintaining its water-tight integrity has long been a problem. In the past, devices have been made to absorb moisture in footwear, but have proven to be impractical. The aforementioned devices have employed a desiccant `such as silica gel in the area of the insole to absorb moisture, but since the desiccant is constantly being pulverized by the weight of the person wearing the footwear the desiccant soon works its way through the insole and into the area of the toes and soles of the feet, causing extremely uncomfortable walking conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure whereby the desiccant `is kept from making uncomfortable contact with the wearers toes and feet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of footwear with a compartment for a desiccant with means for visually determining the moisture content of said desiccant.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means for eliminating moisture in the area of the toes which are particularly vulnerable to frostbite and fungus growth.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means by which a saturated desiccant may be quickly and easily removed and a fresh desiccant inserted.

Another object is to provide an article of footwear with all the aforementioned advantages which will enhance the hygienic care of the feet under adverse conditions wherein the boot or shoe, of necessity, must remain on the foot for extended lengths of time.

In the drawings, in which similar numerals refer to corresponding parts thoughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boot made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view similar to Figure 2, but taken through a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a transverse-sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings which form a part of this specification, the numeral i refers to a conventional boot made with an enlarged blister 2 formed over the area which covers the toes. The .blister 2 may be formed integrally with the boot or pre-fabricated and attached after the boot has been manufactured. In the center of blister 2 is located a small transparent window, 3. As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, the window 3 has its marginal edges entirely imbedded in blister 2 so as to form an effective water-tight seal. Underlying the :blister 2 is a desiccant compartment 4 which extends transversely across the toe area. Beneath the blister 2 is the usual toecovering portion 4 which is divided into exible flaps 5 and 6 by aslot 'I through which the cloth or wire mesh contained desiccant 3 is inserted in the compartment Il'. The flexible flaps 5 and 6 provide the desiccant support and keep the desiccant out of uncomfortable contact with the toes.

The changing of a saturated desiccant is accomplished in the following manner:

The boot is removed, the hand inserted into the toe area and the flexible flaps 5 and 6 spread downward until the mesh contained desiccant 8 falls free of compartment 4'. A fresh bag of desiccant is now placed in position by springy-ing flexible flap 5 downward and flexible flap 6 upward. Before the desiccant is seated inside compartment 4', ap 6 is also sprung downward, thereby completing the operation.

It is quite advantageous to the wearer of this type of footwear that he know the moisture content of the desiccant at all times so that a saturated desiccant can be replaced and a fresh one inserted immediately. To give an accurate indication of its moisture content the bag in which desiccant y8 is enclosed also encloses a, disc-shaped moisture indicator, 9. Said moisture indicator 9 may be formed of such 9, chemical as cobalt chloride 'and is, as shown, positioned directly below the window 3 where it can be seen at a glance.

An indicator such as cobalt chloride is blue when dry and pink when moist, therefore any lesser degree of blue would indicate the approximate state of saturation of the desiccant 8.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 will next be described. In this embodil of desiccant 2 i.

inent, the blister 2 is provided in its top surface with an aperture I5 into which is pressed an internally threaded sleeve I6. Threaded into sleeve IG is a hollow plug i? having its bore filled with a moisture indicator I!) and sealed at the top by transparent cover Il. The bottom of plug l1 is provided with an opening I2 through which moisture may enter to affect moisture indicator lll. A rubber washer i8 is positioned between the top of plug i? and the blister 2 so that an eifective seal is made and no external moisture may enter the desiccant compartment il. The plug IT is easily removed to allow desiccant 2|, in granular form to be poured into and out of the desiccant compartment 4 and the moisture indicator l0 through transparent cover ll allows a constant Visual check to be made of the moisture content As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the portion I9 covers the toes and forms the-bottom of desiccant compartment 4. Also as shown, the portion I9 is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 through which the desiccant may absorb moisture.

It should be observed that the inside of the blister 2 is not necessarily reserved for ya desiccant only, but could be used advantageously in conjunction with a medicant by persons suffering from fungus infection.

While the invention has been described with but reference to two embodiments thereof, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrative, rather than limiting of the invention and have been set forth for the purpose of demonstrating the manner in which the invention may be developed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with an article of footwear, a water-tight compartment formed over the toecovering area of said footwear, said compart ment to receive a desiccant, a transparent window in said compartment, and said compartment being in communication with the interior of the said footwear by a transverse slot.

2. In combination with an article of footwear, an air and water-tight compartment over the toecovering area of said footwear, said air and water-tight compartment to receive a desiccant, a removable plug in said air and water-tight compartment, said plug to receive a moisture indicator beneath a transparent cover; and the interior of the said air and water-tight compartment and the interior of said footwear being in communication by a plurality of apertures.

3. In combination with an article of footwear, a compartment on said footwear, said compartment to receive a desiccant, a transparent Window in said compartment and the interior of the said compartment and the interior of the said footwear being in communication by a plurality of apertures.

4.-. In combination with an article of footwear, a compartment formed over the toe-covering portion of said footwear, said compartment extending transversely across the toe-covering area of said footwear, said compartment to receive a desiccant, said compartment and the interior of the said footwear being in communication, a hollow removable plug in said compartment, the said hollow removable plug to receive a moisture indicator; and the hollow removable plug and the interior of the said compartment being in communication by an aperture.

5. In combination with an article of footwear, a compartment on said footwear', said compartment to receive a desiccant and a transparent window in the said compartment; the interior of said compartment and the interior of said footwear being in communication by a slot; and means for replenishing the desiccant in said coi-;- pa-rtment including a flexible flap on either side of said slot.

6. In combination with an article of footwear, a compartment in said footwear, said compartment to receive a desiccant; means for viewing said desiccant in said compartment including a transparent cover over an aperture in the said compartment; and the interior of said footwear and the interior of said compartment being in communication.

HOWARD W. KEITHL-EY, J R.

No references cited. 

